fletchee



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. G. FLETCHER.

VELOUIPEDE.

Patented Nov. 11,1884.

PFC-.l.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. G. FLETCHER.

(No Model.)

VELOGIPBDE.

No. 307,757. Patented Nov. 11., 1884.

I I l I l I I llIl N PETERS. Pmzo-Lnm n im. Washin ton. I16.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

ROBERT C. FLETCHER, OF TARLETON REGTORY, NEAE PRESTON, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, ENGLAND.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent. No. 307,757, dated November 11, 1884, Application filed August 14, 1884. (No model.) Patented in England March 9, 1881, No. 1,001.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT OROMPTON FLETCHER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Tarleton Rectory, near Preston, in the county of Lancaster, England, clerk in holy orders, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tricycles, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, N 0. 1,001, hearing date March 9, 1881,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tricycles; and it consists in an arrangement for folding the machine for passing through narrow doorways and the like. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a plan, of atricyele constructed according to my invention. Fig. 3 shows the machine folded, and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detailed views of parts of the machine.' I

Similar letters refer to similar parts through out the several views.

out are the driving-wheels mounted on axles a a, respectively, of which the axle a is divided into three parts, one of which, h, is detachable, as hereinafter described. The axles a a turn in suitable bearings connected to the side beams, 12 b, to the latter of which are connected the steering-wheel c and the checkwheel d, (which prevents the machine upsetting backward.)

To the side beams, b b, are pivoted crossbars 6 e, (and also the bearings in which the crank-shaft is supported,) which allow the machine to be folded, and at the same time keep the beams?) b and the wheels a a parallel with each other, as shown in Fig. 3. A central beam, b is also pivoted to the bars 6 c. On the bar 6 is a projection, f, in which is a hole corresponding with ahole in a projection, g, on the beam 12, and a taper plug or bolt fits in these holes, and keeps the frame of the machine rigid in the position shown in Fig. 2. The bolt is withdrawn when it is desired to fold the machine.

In order to connect the portions of the axle a I employ a shaft, h, each end of which is provided with a spring-bolt, j, and a dovetailed portion, it, that fits in a corresponding recess in-the part of the axle connected to the slots in the shaft h to buttons wheels. The dovetailed portion 72/ is thickest where it is widest, and thinnest where it is narrowest, so that the thin narrow part may readily enter the recess into which it fits, even though the distance of the wheels at a from each other may be rather greater or less than the normal distance2'. 6., the distance they are from each other when ready for use and connected by the shaft h. The bolts j are connected by stems passing through L-shaped or knobs by which they are moved. When the bolts are drawn back, the knobs are moved laterally so as to place the stems in the transverse portions of the slots, which hold them back so that the shaft h may be fitted between or withdrawn from the portions of the axle a When placed between the portions of the axle, they may be instantly locked in position by moving the stems into the longitudinal parts of the slot, when the springs will shoot forward the bolts.

The machine may be driven by any suitable balance-gearing.

Having stated the nature of my invention,

and described the manner of performing the same, I declare that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a tricycle, the combination, with the side beams, b b, of the pivoted bars e 0, substantially as and for'the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a tricyle, the divisible axle consisting of the combination of the parts a with the conneetingshaft h, substantially as herein described and as shown, for the purpose specified. i v

3. In a folding tricycle, the combination, with the pivoted bars 6e and side beams, b b, of the shaft h, provided with dovetailed projections h, and bolts j, connecting the divisible axle.

The foregoing specification of my improvement in tricycles signed by me this 28th day of July, 1884.

ROBERT C. FLETCHER. Witnesses:

WM. PARR,

Solicitor, Ormstock. Trros. DUcKWoRTH,

Innkeeper, Lathom. 

